Vélines is the chief town of a canton which forms a link between the Bordeaux and Bergerac regions.

The hillside village overlooks the Dordogne valley and its name comes from the Latin ‘Vélies’ meaning ‘sail wind’. The hill being windier than the plain in the summer the name most probably comes from the fact that the Gallo-Roman base camps were situated in the plains - at Montcaret of course, but also at the non-excavated site of Jeancoupy.

 

Vélines’ population has access to a multitude of services including most administrative structures : post office, community tax office, police station, social welfare centre, DDSP services, a child health and psychology centre, a grouped schools structure ranging from infants to secondary education, nursery, library etc.

Whilst Vélines’ traditional economic activity remains agriculture, viticulture and arboriculture - and now, greenhouse horticulture - the local council has prioritised the development of zones favourable to trade and industry, particularly in the plain along the CD966 road, in the expectation that the construction of the new valley road will beeconomically beneficial to the area. Vélines, steeped in Gallo-Roman history, proud of its Romanesque church and its AOC Bergerac, Montravel and Haut Montravel wines, intends to use these new developments to its advantage and is confident about its future.

Every year, other than the traditional ‘Everything Fair’ of July 14th and the Hillside Race of 8th May, Vélines’ societies and associations organise a variety of evenings where the locals can meet up : for instance a garlic omelette evening or a chestnuts and new fermenting ‘wine’ evening etc.

Vélines has a number of leisure and relaxation activities : tennis, football, rugby, volleyball and hiking trails developed on a departmental level and in conjunction with Montravel wine producers.
Practically speaking, Vélines, is one of the rare - for a hillside community - villages to maintain a relatively stable school population despite falling birth rates.

The village benefits from zoning regulations and its inhabitants are encouraged - and actively participate - in the creation of a happy and efficient community, if only by concentrating and grouping together activities which make the living environment more agreeable for everyone.

Eventually, thanks to land tax reserves and improvements in the road network, the plain should become the commune’s zone of economic expansion.
Vélines also has many associations - as a glance at the following list demonstrates.